What It Really Means to Stand (up)

Definition of “Stand”

verb ( past and past participle stood |sto͝od| )
1 [ no obj. ] have or maintain an upright position, supported by one’s feet: Lionel stood in the doorway | she stood still, heart hammering.
• rise to one’s feet: the two men stood up and shook hands.
• move to and remain in a specified position: she stood aside to let them enter.
• [ with obj. ] place or set in an upright or specified position: don’t stand the plant in direct sunlight.
2 [ no obj. ] (of an object, building, or settlement) be situated in a particular place or position: the town stood on a hill | the hotel stands in three acres of gardens.
• (of a building or other vertical structure) remain upright and entire rather than fall into ruin or be destroyed: after the heavy storms, only one house was left standing.
• remain valid or unaltered: my decision stands | his strikeout record stood for 38 years.
• (esp. of a vehicle) remain stationary: the train now standing on track 3.
• (of a liquid) collect and remain motionless: avoid planting in soil where water stands in winter.
• (of food, a mixture, or liquid) rest without disturbance, typically so as to infuse or marinate: pour boiling water over the fruit and leave it to stand for 5 minutes.
• (of a ship) remain on a specified course: the ship was standing north.
3 [ no obj. ] be in a specified state or condition: since mother’s death, the house had stood empty | sorry, darling—I stand corrected.
• adopt a particular attitude toward a matter or issue: students should consider where they stand on this issue.
• be of a specified height: Sampson was a small man, standing 5 ft. 4 in. tall.
• (stand at) be at (a particular level or value): the budget stood at $14 million per annum.
• [ no obj., with infinitive ] be in a situation where one is likely to do something: investors stood to lose heavily.
• act in a specified capacity: he stood watch all night.
• (also stand at stud )(of a stallion) be available for breeding.
4 [ with obj. and often modal ] withstand (an experience or test) without being damaged: small boats that could stand the punishment of heavy seas.
• [ usu. with negative ] informal be able to endure or tolerate: I can’t stand the way Mom talks to him.
5 [ no obj. ] Brit.be a candidate in an election: he stood for Parliament in 1968.
6 [ usu. with two objs. ] provide (food or drink) for someone at one’s own expense: somebody in the bar would stand him a beer.